{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122539", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122539/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Representatives from credit unions have raised issues with me related to capital requirements, most recently when I spoke at the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) conference in March 2019. Capital requirements for credit unions are set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), in line with their mandate to promote the safety and soundness of firms.<\/p>

<\/p>

The PRA is independent from government and is responsible for ensuring the credit union sector is effectively regulated and financially stable.<\/p>

<\/p>

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector. Credit union membership and assets continue to grow, with membership passing 2 million for the first time in 2018 and total assets growing to over £3.3 billion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "246543"} , {"_value" : "246544"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-29T14:19:31.16Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of discontinuities in credit union capital requirements on credit unions' capacity to grow assets beyond £10 million; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Stephens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow South West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Stephens"} ], "uin" : "246542"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122540", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122540/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Representatives from credit unions have raised issues with me related to capital requirements, most recently when I spoke at the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) conference in March 2019. Capital requirements for credit unions are set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), in line with their mandate to promote the safety and soundness of firms.<\/p>

<\/p>

The PRA is independent from government and is responsible for ensuring the credit union sector is effectively regulated and financially stable.<\/p>

<\/p>

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector. Credit union membership and assets continue to grow, with membership passing 2 million for the first time in 2018 and total assets growing to over £3.3 billion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "246542"} , {"_value" : "246544"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-29T14:19:31.207Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on changing credit union capital requirements; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Stephens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow South West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Stephens"} ], "uin" : "246543"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122542", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1122542/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Representatives from credit unions have raised issues with me related to capital requirements, most recently when I spoke at the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) conference in March 2019. Capital requirements for credit unions are set by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), in line with their mandate to promote the safety and soundness of firms.<\/p>

<\/p>

The PRA is independent from government and is responsible for ensuring the credit union sector is effectively regulated and financially stable.<\/p>

<\/p>

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector. Credit union membership and assets continue to grow, with membership passing 2 million for the first time in 2018 and total assets growing to over £3.3 billion.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "246542"} , {"_value" : "246543"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-29T14:19:31.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change credit union capital requirements to support credit unions to grow assets beyond £10 million; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4463", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Stephens"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow South West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Stephens"} ], "uin" : "246544"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082539", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082539/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector.<\/p>

<\/p>

At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a two-year pilot of a new prize-linked savings scheme offered through credit unions. This will support the credit union sector through increased membership, awareness and deposits, as well as encouraging participants to build up savings to help them cope with financial shocks. The Chancellor also announced a new £2 million challenge fund to promote innovative solutions from the UK\u2019s Fintech sector to address challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions.<\/p>

<\/p>

This Government believes improving governance in the sector is best led by the sector itself, and supports ABCUL\u2019s work in this regard.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-11T14:19:08.927Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department is providing to Credit Unions to improve their governance policies.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4640", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Linden"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Glasgow East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Linden"} ], "uin" : "229202"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1059769", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1059769/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Over 70 Credit Unions benefited from the Credit Union Expansion Project with products such as an Automated Lending and Decision System. These credit unions operated across England, Wales and Scotland. The Credit Union Expansion Project did not include credit unions in Northern Ireland as the aim of the project was to drive up membership of GB credit unions from a very low base. Across GB less than 1% of the population were members of a credit union at the outset of the project. The situation in Northern Ireland is different with over 26% of the population being members of credit unions. The Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion met with representatives of Northern Ireland credit unions on the 20 July 2018 in Belfast.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-18T17:45:45.673Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many credit unions have been involved in the Credit Union Expansion Project; and in which region do they operate.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"} ], "uin" : "220111"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1047834", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1047834/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector.<\/p>

<\/p>

At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a two-year pilot of a new prize-linked savings scheme offered through credit unions. This will support the credit union sector through increased membership, awareness and deposits, as well as encouraging participants to build up savings to help them cope with financial shocks.<\/p>

<\/p>The Chancellor also announced a new £2 million challenge fund to promote innovative solutions from the UK\u2019s Fintech sector to address challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions. This follows the success of last year\u2019s Rent Recognition Challenge, where Government backing has supported UK Fintechs to successfully develop and roll out digital solutions for incorporating rental data into credit scores."} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-02-06T12:52:02.683Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they give to credit unions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4303", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Kennedy of Cradley"} ], "uin" : "HL13112"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036905", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1036905/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector.<\/p>

<\/p>

At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a two-year pilot of a new prize-linked savings scheme offered through credit unions. This will support the credit union sector through increased membership, awareness and deposits, as well as encouraging participants to build up savings to help them cope with financial shocks.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Chancellor also announced a new £2 million challenge fund to promote innovative solutions from the UK\u2019s Fintech sector to address challenges faced by social and community lenders, including credit unions. This follows the success of last year\u2019s Rent Recognition Challenge, where UK Fintechs were invited to develop digital solutions for incorporating rental data into credit scores.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-21T15:38:44.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support and enable the growth of credit unions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3869", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Myners"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Myners"} ], "uin" : "HL12547"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023107", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023107/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to local communities.<\/p>

<\/p>

At Autumn Budget 2018, the Chancellor announced a package of measures to support the social and community lending sector, including credit unions.<\/p>

<\/p>

This includes a prize-linked savings scheme for credit unions, simplifying regulation to make it easier for Registered Social Landlords to refer to credit unions, and a challenge fund to create technological solutions for credit unions and Community Development Finance Institutions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4051", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for John Glen"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Salisbury"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Glen"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-11T17:04:01.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What further steps he plans to take to support credit unions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/177", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Gareth Thomas"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Gareth Thomas"} ], "uin" : "908141"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/991171", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/991171/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Government is committed to facilitating sustainable financial services that give consumers greater choice in accessing credit. Credit union membership in Great Britain has increased year-on-year since 2014, rising to around 1.32 million members in 2017; this was an increase of over 150,000 individuals over the 3 year period. It is even more encouraging that credit unions are becoming more popular with junior members; in 2017 there were over 139,000 junior members of credit unions in Great Britain compared to around 128,000 in 2014.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Credit Union Expansion Project (CUEP) aims were for participating credit unions to modernise and grow in a financially sustainable way, over time. The contractor aimed to deliver that by enabling credit unions to access a standardised banking service.<\/p>

CUEP has delivered an Automated Loans and Decision tool (ALD) used by over 70 credit unions, centralised services such as a standardised front facing website, and that the ALD has allowed credit unions to achieve up to 40% administrative savings on delivering loans and reduce provision for unpaid debt by over £1 million. CUEP also led to a number of credit unions to merge, and others to work together to develop standardised products and deliver local marketing campaigns to increase membership. CUEP contributed to credit unions on the platform to increase the value of loans made.<\/p>

Due to the Contractors failure to meet contractual milestones, DWP terminated the CUEP contract on 16th<\/sup> February 2018. Whilst the contractor has not met their contractual agreement, they have delivered a banking platform that allows credit union members to receive a range of banking services and benefit from more affordable credit. At the point the contract was terminated the platform was being used by three credit unions with a total of approximately 16.5k members allowing members to benefit from 24 hour online access to their accounts, and receive faster payments on a loan on the same day, usually within 4 hours.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-24T15:11:56.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the credit union expansion project.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"} ], "uin" : "181556"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/923130", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/923130/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The government remains committed to supporting credit unions, which provide vital services to financially under-served communities and contribute to the diversity of the UK\u2019s financial services sector.<\/p>

<\/p>

Government engages closely with representatives of the credit union sector throughout the UK to understand how credit unions may best be supported. This includes speaking to Northern Ireland specific trade bodies and maintaining an ongoing relationship with the devolved Department for Economy in Northern Ireland to understand any issues specific to Northern Ireland\u2019s credit union sector.<\/p>

Government\u2019s engagement with the credit union sector includes ongoing consideration of its legislative framework. For example, in 2014 Government conducted a Call for Evidence (\u2018British Credit Unions at 50\u2019) on credit unions. Several respondents asked for changes to the legislation governing credit unions, and in its response, Government committed to actively consider legislative changes in the next Parliament. At Autumn Budget 2017, Government committed to raising the geographical common bond limit for credit unions from 2 to 3 million. This change came into effect in April 2018.<\/p>

All changes to credit union legislation must be considered alongside the need to maintain an appropriate regulatory regime for credit unions. A looser legislative framework would likely require increased regulation which might be inappropriate for small, community based institutions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL8595"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-27T14:03:17.73Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Credit Unions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to review the legislation covering credit unions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4153", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kennedy of Southwark"} ], "uin" : "HL8594"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&hansardHeading=Credit+Unions&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2019-04-29", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 36, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }